title: Musculoskeletal disorders among clerical workers in Los Angeles: a labor management approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) persist among clerical workers despite ergonomic advances.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey among 2,310 clerical workers investigated MSD cases, defined as musculoskeletal discomfort and seeking treatment for that discomfort in the past 12 months. A modified Poisson regression model was adopted to assess the association between work and individual factors and the risk of MSDs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over half of respondents reported musculoskeletal discomfort. The prevalence of MSD cases was: 37.2% neck/shoulders, 21.7% upper extremities, 18% lower extremities, and 34.3% back region. Elevated risk of MSDs was associated with less workstation adjustability; work schedule, gender, age, and BMI were also significant. Positive trends were observed between computer use and MSDs for the neck/shoulder region and the effect was amplified among those reporting insufficient workstation adjustability and lacking computer ergonomics training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results demonstrate the need to limit continuous computer use and to improve the human-machine interface through adjustable workstations and worker training to enhance use of adjustable features.
authors.affiliation: University of California Los Angeles Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (UCLA-LOSH), Los Angeles, CA 90095-1478, USA. ldelp@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delp
authors.forename: Pin-Chieh
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003201:Computers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010559:Personnel Management; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: clerical workers; computer use; labor-management programs; musculoskeletal disorders; office ergonomics